We have already bought the remaining inventory of engines for Atlas 5
rockets. There is a $250M plan to shift manufacturing to the US (tooling
up) so we don't have to rely on their engines. The reason we bought them
in the first place was because they were cheaper to import than tool-up
and built them in the US. Now that the events in Ukraine is reaching
critical mass, we're preparing to stop buying rocket engines from them
(that will hit them in the pocketbook, big time).
The dude that was sanctioned in Russia told a US diplomat the US can use
a trampoline to get to the ISS. Bad move on his part. We have 9
operational engines in stock for the Atlas 5 rockets (those are for NASA
to travel to the ISS). The US Air Force has a bigger space program than
NASA, and does not use Russian engines. Plus, there are plenty of
minuteman missiles for launching satellites.
Not only that, but SpaceX is accelerating their testing schedule which
was going to start new trials in two months anyway.
The US is in no danger of losing access to the ISS, the moon, or more
planned Mars missions. In fact, Russia is going to be the big loser
(again) when it comes to space exploration. Hell, China is ahead of them
now - and they just landed a probe on the moon, only 50 years after the
US did.
Don't listen to the fear mongers. The US has plenty of resources ready
to go for the foreseeable future until we replace the Russian bought
engines and Space-X is ready for prime-time.
The US has money, the Russians don't. Heh.. what are they going to do
when we decide not to share data from NORAD here:
https://www.space-track.org

Yeah, our "subjects" are really suffering compared to the rest of the
world. Even the poorest families have cell phones, cable TV, a better
domicile than some of the "rich" in Russia and China.
If you're going to be "poor", the USA is the place to do it.

So true, we used to have free speech, freedom
from search and siezure, freedom from self
incrimination, freedom from opressive taxes,
We have spying, lack of privacy, endless
regulations, and the burden has shifted from
government (to prove they have probable cause)
to the citizen who has to prove the need for
whatever, and then get a permit.
We're ripe for another revolution.

You may get your wish. Two recent decisions by SCOTUS have pretty much interred whatever electoral democracy we may have had over the last 225 years.
1. Citizens United. If you don't realize what that decision has already meant in terms of election funding, you need to look under the bed. We now have the best electoral government that (unaccountable) money can buy.
2. Decision on Christian prayer before town meetings in public tax-supported facilities.
Excellent analysis at:
http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/05/tradition-todays-legislative-prayer-decision-in-plain-english/
There goes the First Amendment.
BTW, if you do manage to get through the whole thing, note the concurring (with the 5-4 majority) opinion of Justice Thomas, who goes out of his way to prove he's as dumb as a post.
HB

It's possible to have components of "socialism" in a capitalist society.
The problem with most Americans is that they're brainwashed into choosing
a side between "conservative and liberalism". The politicians are
laughing their asses off about this. There is virtually no difference
between the "two parties". Behind closed doors the agenda never changes,
hasn't in 60 years. And anyone that thinks the POTUS has so much power
to control all aspects of government policies is just plain asleep at the
wheel. You folks that subscribe to either party, regardless of whom is
running are more dangerous than the politicians. You're scared of the
government, when the exact opposite should be true. That's why their
plan of division is working so well. I wish folks would wake up,
renounce party affiliations and think for themselves. Pulling a straight
ticket is about as stupid as it gets on election day. You don't even
know who you're voting for because you're too lazy to research the
candidates. It takes me an hour to vote. I see sheeple walk in and out
in two minutes after pulling a straight ticket.
I don't want to start shit at the polling place, but I would love to
interview those folks with all the candidates mixed up on a list out of
order (without a "R" or "D" next to their names) and ask who they voted
for! I'll bet 95% won't even get 50% of the names they voted for
correctly.
In fact, I may just do that come November.

What total rubbish. There are some aspects that both parties have in
common, but it's ridiculous to claim that there is virtually no difference
between the two parties.
And anyone that thinks the POTUS has so much power

Control? No. But he is the leader and has a lot to say in the
national agenda. Who drove through Obamacare, for example? Also note
that's a very clear and big example of differences in the two parties.
You folks that subscribe to either party, regardless of whom is

Say what? Because Americans choose to join a political party,
they are "dangerous".
You're scared of the

Citizens should always be skeptical, if not scared of their govt.
History has proven why.
That's why their

Not for me. I find it just about impossible to vote for anyone
who identifies with the Democrat party. What you find as stupid,
isn't. The Republican party holds positions on major issues that
I identify with about 90%. The Democratic party, I can't think of
a single thing that's a current issue, where I hold position that's
the same as theirs. It's not that I won't vote for a Democrat because
they are Democrats. I'm not voting for a Democrat because I disagree
with their positions and approach to govt.
You don't even

Now you're making broad assumptions.

If that's true, then it must be you who is lazy and confused.
You don't know who you want to vote for before entering the
booth? Good grief.
I see sheeple walk in and out

Where exactly do you vote where you see how other people vote?
Good grief. And if you know who you want to vote for before
entering the booth, why would it ever take more than 2 minutes?
They don't have sample ballots that they mail to you and posted at
the polls?

Even if they can't it doesn't prove much. I'm aware of all the candidates
and as I've said, I don't know of a single Democrat I would ever vote for.
Today's Democrat party is not the party of JFK or Truman. They've even
gone so extreme that they drove out Joe Lieberman, who was their VP
nominee a decade ago. So, I can see some lazy folks not bothering to figure
it all out and using a proxy, ie party affiliation instead. It is a
democracy and they are free to vote as they please.

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